Well, how much is your upper limit? That would be really helpful. If you really only want to use BSD, why get an Apple laptop at all? I'm sure you could get a workable x86 laptop at a local Computer Renaissance or recycler for only a couple of hundred, max. If you really want a Mac laptop, there are some incredible deals on either brand new G4 iBooks for $899 from Amazon or, if you want a PowerBook, TechRestore has Titanum G4 PowerBooks starting at $799 (PowerBook G4/550 Mhz 256/20GB/CD-RW/DVD with 15.2" LCD). Neither of those machines will be super slow, and will run Mac OS X very well. I'm typing this on a 400 MHz TiBook w/ 384 MB of RAM now, and it runs Panther quite well. Well, at least until I launch iPhoto...